Acorn Stakes is All About You

You led every step of the way to easily win the Acorn Stakes (gr. I) Friday at Belmont Park. Under Jerry Bailey, You was under pressure until they turned for home in the one-turn mile race, but she then spurted away and coasted home as much the best.

Willa on the Move ran second while favored Bella Bellucci finished third in the five-horse field after the scratch of Proper Gamble.

The fractions You cut were all very solid: she went the quarter in :22.39; the half in :44.71; six furlongs in 1:08.26; and the eight furlongs in 1:34.05. Her winning time shaved a fifth of a second off the previous stakes record.

The highly consistent You had finished fourth in her previous start, the Kentucky Oaks (gr. I), but had won the Santa Anita Oaks (gr. I) and Las Virgenes Stakes (gr. I) in her two starts before leaving California this spring.

"The Jerkens' filly (Dust Me Off, trained by Allen Jerkens) left there like her hair was on fire," said Bailey. "Bobby (Frankel) and I had talked before the race and at first, we were going to yank You back about a half-length off the pace. Then, we decided that wasn't a smart thing to do. We were going let her run her race. Whether she likes the one turn, or she's getting back to her old self, I don't know. She ran a huge race today."

By You and I and out of the Homebuilder mare Our Dani, You was bred in Kentucky by Dolphus Morrison. She was purchased privately last year by trainer Bobby Frankel for Edmund Gann.

"Bella Bellucci didn't run her race, so the race looked more impressive than it really was," said Frankel. "The horses that were chasing her were not the quality of Bella Bellucci. When they turned for home and I saw (Gary) Stevens knuckling on Bella Bellucci, I knew we were home free. When I saw the pace, I was worried that Bella Bellucci would come and pick us up, but she didn't. My filly ran a huge effort today. She likes the one-turn mile and that definitely helped."

You returned $5, $3.50, and $2.10, and Willa On the Move paid $8.70 and $2.10. Bella Bellucci returned $2.10.

Bella Bellucci's trainer Neil Drysdale said the 7-10 favorite didn't like the track.

"She wasn't handling the track too well," the conditioner said. "She's got speed, but she just couldn't get her feet out of it. Her father (French Deputy), didn't like this kind of track, either."

Frankel said the June 29 Mother Goose (gr. I) may be too quick of a turnaround for You. "She is the kind of filly that needs time between her races, so I don't know if we will come back in the Mother Goose," he said. (Chart, Equibase)